Senate Bill S8889 proposes to establish a formal licensing and supervision authority for prediction market platforms in New York.If passed, the bill would amend the...
New York shuts down 26 online sweepstakes casinos
New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, has taken action against 26 online sweepstakes casinos by shutting down their illegal operations in the state.
Sweepstakes let people buy virtual coins to play casino-style games and win real money or prizes. The Attorney General worked with the New York State Gaming Commission to investigate these platforms. They found the sites were breaking the law by allowing gambling without proper oversight. In New York, any game where you can win something valuable counts as gambling and must be regulated to protect players.
Some well-known sites affected include Chumba, Global Poker, Fortune Coins, and Luckyland. They offered free play but encouraged users to buy coins to win real prizes, mimicking real gambling.
Attorney General James warned about the financial and mental health risks that come with unregulated operations. Without state supervision, players could be exposed to unfair games, scams, and even addiction. What was more concerning was the target of underage gamblers. After receiving stop orders, all 26 sites agreed to stop selling sweepstakes coins in New York.
As a result, famous names came up in their support of the move. Among them were the chair of the Gaming Commission, Brian O’Dwyer, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr, and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.
New York aims to make it clear that the gambling market in the state must be free of any illegal activity.
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